No one wants to get up close and personal with them but many residents of the 705 regions have been posting social media pics of close encounters with the Massasauga rattlesnake. Needless to say, STAY AWAY!
In Canada, the Massasauga is found only in Ontario, primarily along the eastern side of Georgian Bay and on the Bruce Peninsula. Two small populations are also found in the Wainfleet Bog on the northeast shore of Lake Erie and near Windsor. The Massasauga can be found in many different terrains in Ontario including forests, bogs, marshes, and tall grass. However, they require open areas to warm themselves in the sun. Pregnant females are most often found in open, dry habitats such as rock barrens or forest clearings where they can more easily maintain the body temperature required to develop their offspring.
The Massasauga is a physically robust snake with – as the name suggests – a tail that ends in a small rattle that creates a buzzing sound when the tail shakes. The snakes range between 50 to 70 centimeters in length and are grey to dark brown with darker brown markings down the back and sides. The Massasauga is the only Ontario snake with a vertical (cat-like) pupil. It’s also the province’s only venomous snake, though it will only bite in self-defense if it’s threatened or harassed. No one has died from a Massasauga bite in Ontario in more than 50 years, and only two deaths resulting from a Massasauga bite have ever been reported in the province.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t exercise extreme caution around these snakes. Lindsay Davidson of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks tells 705blackfly.com, “If someone is bitten by a Massasauga, ensure the individual remains calm and as inactive as possible. Remove jewelry or restrictive clothing from the area around the bite and immediately proceed to a hospital or call 911.”
For more information about the Massasauga in Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/massasauga-rattlesnake
